Is it wrong to send someone to jail knowing that they will likely die there?
Question:
Hi Mr Hamilton,
I hope you’re doing well. I had a question if you don’t mind answering. My wife and I recently had a trial against her rapist, and he got sentenced to 50 years in prison with all his charges. She heard it’s a sin to sentence someone to prison when they’ll likely die there, considering their age. I don’t know of anything like this, and told her it was her rapists actions that landed him the rest of his life behind bars, and that it wouldn’t be any fault of hers since she’s the victim. She said she was told it was inhumane to do that, which is why it’s a sin.
Could you explain this to us?
Thank you for your time, as always.
Answer:
"Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil" (Romans 13:1-4).
God gives governments the authority to punish those who commit evil acts. This can include executing the criminal, as seen in the phrase "it does not bear the sword for nothing." Thus, if someone dies while in prison, say for committing a mass murder, God does not call this sinful. If this is true for heinous crimes, then it would also be acceptable that a 90-year-old caught stealing could be sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment. He might die before he is released, but that is not morally wrong. What was morally wrong was the crime he committed.
The Psalmist points out that the wicked are responsible for the results of their sins:
"God is a righteous judge, and a God who has indignation every day. If a man does not repent, He will sharpen His sword; He has bent His bow and made it ready. He has also prepared for Himself deadly weapons; He makes His arrows fiery shafts. Behold, he travails with wickedness, and he conceives mischief and brings forth falsehood. He has dug a pit and hollowed it out, and has fallen into the hole which he made. His mischief will return upon his own head, and his violence will descend upon his own pate" (Psalms 7:11-16).
The victim is never held guilty for the punishment of the wicked.
The man chose to rape an innocent woman, and it sounds like your wife was not his only victim. Relative to past punishments for crime, he got off lightly with a 50-year sentence, since it used to be that rape carried a death penalty. Whether he lives long enough to get out of jail is not the issue.
